Baby needs shoes...

[oldmako]

61K on my initial el cheapos and it's time for some new rubber.

The number of tires out there makes my head hurt. I am leaning Michelin but my mind is wandering, porous, vacuous, twisted, of low amperage, minimalist, foggy and easily confused and swayed.

What say the Q cognoscenti WRT babies next shoes? After this weeks blood lettting on Wall Street, I am too broke to buy new rims so the factory turbines are going to be it. I like WIDE tyres (as they say in EU) and I am currently running a set of 245/50/16s. Dem fat tars look GOOD on my Qbomb. Yes, my car has the gaps but I am quite fond of gap and like to immerse myself it as often as I can.

Suggestions and / or ridicule?

I'll go refresh my cocktail while you all talk amongst yourselves. The floor is open.

[Infinitiguy19]

Michelin is the best.

Hankook is a big mistake.

Hope you never leave NICO because all your posts are awesome.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Hankook is a big mistake.

That varies entirely by model. Hankook makes some genuinely good tires (like the iPike, and supposedly the Ventus V12 Evo). And they also make some truly terrible tires, like the Ventus V4.

[Infiniti_Pro]

Hankook is a big mistake.

Wish I read this a while ago.

[mrpeeb240]

go with a high end michelin,kumho or bf goodrich

[goody90q45]

........Suggestions and / or ridicule?......The floor is open.

I'm torn, I'm not sure whether to help you or beat you down some more and send you back to your cell. Seriously though....

If you can afford Michelin Pilot Sports and still have money left over to keep you in booze until the next paycheck, go for it. I had 225/55-16 Pilot Sports on my 94Q and they were great. Best tires I've ever had. There was lots of room for 55's if you want to consider going a little taller. DSagers bought the set when I sold the carcass and now has my tires and rims on his Q in Utah.

If you haven't already, take a look at TireRack.com to see what's available. There'sabout 20 choices in your tire size.

[oldmako]

Mike,

Thanks for your reply and its overall specificity. I am leaning Mich and that's most likely where I'll end up. The Yokos have lasted a hell of a long time and are on the chopping block primarily due to rot. They still have plenty of tread left.

Is the pilot Sport different from the exalto? I'll give them a shout and see.

I'd like to get a taller tire in the same width if it's possible to help with the gaps, but it won't be a deal breaker if I can't find some.

I ran Michelins on my trucks for years and those things never wore out, they rotted first. But it's been a LONG time since I had a set on a pax car. I'm looking forward to it. With 166,000 the car is still very young for me. I like to run em till they are near death.

So, tires, shocks, T-rods and brakes I ought to be in good shape.

[oldmako]

Just pulled the trigger. Pilot Sport A/S Plus in the 245/50/16. Michelin has a 70 dollar rebate right now and rubber is headed to the moon due to excessive rain in Taiwan.

The stock tire is no taller, 3/4 of an inch narrower and actually costs MORE then its mo' wider brethren.

They are being drop shipped to a Tread Quarters right up the street. Now if I can only get those neon curb feelers.

[Q45tech]

Don't confuse the bulging sidewall thickness with the true contact patch width and area...........set primarily by wheel width and psi.

Did a mini mountain trip yesterday on all 225V Exaltos [1st time since I finally got rid of last 235 Pilot H4 on front]......sad funeral.

I had forgotten just how fine tuned I had gotten the springs and sway bars previously..............one mighty fine handling 20.3 year old car.
Just showed the need for brand new shocks especially rear units.

[oldmako]

My shocks are toast. I look forward to seeing the difference these tires alone make, and then again with the new shocks. This car is like a BOAT. Break Out Another Thousand.

But, I see what others pay PER MONTH to drive something newer and I just shake my head. No way I want a $400/mo payment.

This car has been pretty much bullet proof since I bought it at 106K. It shucked a spark plug and ruined the heads threads and coil in the process but beyond that it's given me no trouble. I give it decent care, but not over the top. It still looks good and gets compliments. And it's still perfect for its mission, fairly high speed, 200 mile highway comfort. I just wish the interstate speeds were higher. 65 in on of these is just ridiculous. I get away with as much as I dare but have a healthy fear of my insurance company.

[Q45tech]

I'm quite happy with my $200 per month payment for repairs and mainteances and 22 mpg highway with ac. $30 annual tag fee and $400 per year insurance.

Still no tickets or accidents in 25 years.


Georgia has a new $600 surcharge on 75.1+ mph [2 lane] and 85.1+ mph Interstates tickets, which has limited most of the educated [non sports figures] folks speed.

[oldmako]

Virginia Sucks. Anything over 80 on the interstate is technically Reckless Driving and the fines go through the roof. Anything 20 over anywhere else is also reckless, but it is my understanding that the officer must specify "reckless" on the citation. If he does not it morphs to "speeding 20-25 over" or words to that effect. Still enough to get one in hot water with the insurance peeps.

A 2 or 3 lane interstate highway, which is empty or nearly so, is (in my Nigel Mansellian opinion) certainly safe in a modern auto at speeds up to and including 100 mph. Troopers need to have some latitude with their discretion. You and I have all been on the road when a MUCH slower, yet legal speed was dangerous and reckless.

Yet, we are all dumbed down and penalized for trivial Bull Shot so the states can pad their empty larders. Horse Shot! Home of the oppressed is more like it.

My car, even at 166K and worn shocks and shot T-Rods is still safer on an empty highway at 90-100 then the cars were 50 years ago when the interstate high-way system was born. But, I crawl along at 79. Sucks.

[AZhitman]

Michelin is the best.

Hankook is a big mistake.

SO wrong.

Michelin makes some awesome rubber, and they also make some turds.

Hankook makes some incredible tires (Ventus V12 Evo - I have a set).

[Infinitiguy19]

OK....

I had Michelin pilots given from the previous owner, He had them for 7 years I found out they were that old (Thru the manufacture codes). Now not all tires are made the same but I thought I was smarter by buying some Hankook (Will find model type), I was WRONG. It has a 360 tread wear rating, 95 load rated and I think V rated, Can't remember (Its defiantly made for 149+ MPH). Wait I think its in the Optimo model class, Either way I messed up big time.

I am putting them back on next week and I will finish up the Rear Shock Tower Bar and install the rear sub frame spacers as well so I will put them to the test.

And from some studies I found you can see Michelin for the most part is ranked better than Hankook tires:
http://www.tirereview.com/Content/Site3 ... 022562.pdf
http://www.automotivedigest.com/content ... px?a=56322

You get what you pay for, I paid $700 installed (Alignment, balance...) for the optimos but I expected more. Especially if they are all season tires. They are trash in the winter (With snow). And with my AUTOMATIC 1993 Q45 on the high way I could always let the rear end loose at 50. And I could never gain traction till 3rd GEAR when merging on the highway where you have to stop.

Plus Hankook could think of better names than V12 Evo, Are they trying to appeal to kids still in high school?

The South Korea Mullet also comes from there: Hyundai Genisis
Mercedes-Benz in front


BMW in the rear

[AZhitman]

When you've bought over 100 sets of tires, you can feel free to educate me. Until then, save it. That last post was jibberish.

Sit back and learn:

Hankook Optimo are a bottom-rung, cheap, entry-level tire. Their lowest numerical treadwear rating is a 400 (they have other models that go up to 700, lol). No wonder you had a bad experience with them. You got what you paid for... Cheap Granny-tires.

Which model do you have? 727? 725? 418?

I'm not sure why you brought a Hyundai into the thread, but that car is an amazing car for the money.

BTW, Michelins are made in the US, Canada and Mexico. So, what's the problem with tires made in Korea?

Lastly, you're really making fun of the name of a tire? DUDE - You bought "Optimo's"? Sounds like a breakfast cereal.

Read up on an amazing tire (that outperformed the Michelin Pilot Sport): http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/com ... vo_page_10

[Infinitiguy19]

All I know is that I went to Town Fair Tire (nice Place) and I told them "I want the best summer tire you have". They told me they have Michelin but the tread rating is 400+ and thats far too rough I thought. I told them "What else" we have Hankook Optimo's that has a 360 tread rating. I said "what else does it offer" Guy says "95 load rating", "V rated (I think (ME))". I say "These are summer tires right NOT all season tires?" He says "These are summer tires" I say "Then Lets do it"

They had a 30 day return warranty if I am not happy but it never rained once so I never could try them in every way.

"Smart people learn from there mistakes", "Really smart people learn from others mistakes"

I have the tire sticker to prove they are have 360 tread rating, I just need to find it.

I always wanted to make one of those black frame pictures with a Hyundai front and back and put what I said (Merc in the front, BMW in the back), Because thats what it is. I don't doubt its a OK car but its still looks like what I said previously.

BTW, Michelins are made in the US, Canada and Mexico. So, what's the problem with tires made in Korea?

American and Canadian made products are usually the best compared to other made elsewhere IN MY OPINION.

Lastly, you're really making fun of the name of a tire? DUDE - You bought "Optimo's"? Sounds like a breakfast cereal.

Didn't think of the name much at the time but the more I looked into the company, the more I should have seen there tire model names. At least we can agree they can do better in that area.

[Q45tech]

My Michelin 225V were made in South Africa.

A V [44 psi] tire is very heavy duty and heavier than the light weight thin sidewall W/Z 51-52 psi...............many times a V tire will be safer than a W/Z especially when multi year is demanded instead of multi month service.

[AZhitman]

All I know is that I went to Town Fair Tire (nice Place) and I told them "I want the best summer tire you have". They told me they have Michelin but the tread rating is 400+ and thats far too rough I thought. I told them "What else" we have Hankook Optimo's that has a 360 tread rating. I said "what else does it offer" Guy says "95 load rating", "V rated (I think (ME))". I say "These are summer tires right NOT all season tires?" He says "These are summer tires" I say "Then Lets do it"

Gotcha.

Therefore, my point stands: Do your homework. If that "tire place" told you the Optimo was a good "summer tire", they're morons. They're neither a "summer tire" NOR a high-end tire. You, my friend, got shafted.

I see AT LEAST 50 tires that better meet your criteria when looking at Town Fair Tire's stock list:

http://www.townfair.com/tftTireMakesModels.aspx

I'd go back and tell the "tire guy" that he's an a$$. If you asked for "best summer tire" and the best he could do is a set of sugar-frosted Optimo's, that's a pretty sh***y tire store.

Next time, do your own research.

[NightRiderQ45]

Optimo.....that's a term for rolling that big sticky icky lol. Afterwards, you could eat a elephant!

[qship96]

Why would you want "summer" tires living in Mass. anyway? Get a set of all season Michelin Exaltos and you have more tire than you need for the Q unless you are driving it like a 16 year old who just got his license..........less than $500 from tirerack for a set of 4, and will easily last over 50,000 miles of use.

[Infinitiguy19]

I understand what your saying but New England is weird. One day its 80*F and the next day its snowing. We see as low as 0*F and as high as 100*F. So all season tires are useless for me. If owning two sets proves to be expensive which may soon will. by then I think tire makers could figure out how to make a good tire for New England.

I must admit Traction Control System makes up for my inability to drive but it spoils me at the same time sometimes. But then again like Q45Tech says: If the tires are soft enough TCS would never engage (Not a direct quote).

But to be fair I only rode on Michelin Pilots (Old ones at that) and Bridgestone Blizzaks. The Hankook's that I have are useless as a all season tire and marginal at best as a summer tire, As pointed out.

[Q45tech]

I had 2 rear tire measured for road force today - 10 and 17 pounds. The best tire was the one I had to drive 3.7 miles flat [very flat 2 psi] to get off interstate [from a bad valve stem]............I'm not sure many tires would survive that abuse and still show 10 pounds.

MIchelin Exalto 225/60/15 V


Wear Index is a made up parameter that is set by individual company so little if any correlation between companies. They test tires on a road in San Angelo Texas for about 3700 miles, measure the wear and then guessimate when the tire will wear out based on that.

Tire compound softness is best derived by looking at Tire Rack braking test [wet and dry]...........off course you must correct for temperaure difference.


Michelin is probably the most HONEST is specifying sticker parameters, Bridgestone next.............Firestone and BFG are owned by these two and generally just place quietness near bottom as not worth the research and money it costs

[qship96]

I understand what your saying but New England is weird. One day its 80*F and the next day its snowing. We see as low as 0*F and as high as 100*F. So all season tires are useless for me. If owning two sets proves to be expensive which may soon will. by then I think tire makers could figure out how to make a good tire for New England.

I must admit Traction Control System makes up for my inability to drive but it spoils me at the same time sometimes. But then again like Q45Tech says: If the tires are soft enough TCS would never engage (Not a direct quote).

But to be fair I only rode on Michelin Pilots (Old ones at that) and Bridgestone Blizzaks. The Hankook's that I have are useless as a all season tire and marginal at best as a summer tire, As pointed out.

I highly disagree that "all season tires are useless to me"......my weather in Md also swings from 100*F in summer down to 5-10*F in Winter, with little to tons of snow {108 inches this past winter} and the Exaltos performed wonderfully through summer and the snow, never once leaving me stuck {and I did drive daily through the snowstorms}. I am 35,000 miles into my second set, and add the 55,000 miles I got out of the first set makes a total of 90,000 miles of driving experience on the Exaltos, and not once had I wished for a better set of tires, winter or summer.Sure a dedicated snow tire will be better, but if the roads are that bad and unplowed, you are better off staying off the roads all together or using a 4 wheel drive vehicle with much more ground clearance anyway.Just my experience as a Q driver for well over 10 years and 200,000 miles.

[Infinitiguy19]

I know what my next tires are then!

I need to look at them more closely but I want to find some BBS wheels as well from a 1994-1996 Infiniti Q45, Haven't seen many BBS wheels on earlier Q's.

GOOD LORD Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S on Tire rack for ~$300 after mail in rebate! Thats a steal compared to my highway robbery from Town Fair Tire.

[AZhitman]

Every once in a while, us old dawgs know what's up.

[Q45tech]

Don't confuse the H rated Exaltos with the 225 V rated Exaltos.........they are very very different tires internally with the same name and tread pattern.

$137 vs $91
The 215H rated [$91] is good enough for most people and rides significantly softer with less impact resistance.

But durabilty is much higher in V rated form as shown by the 1 pound extra weight 24 vs 25 [dual steel belts].

[Infinitiguy19]

I have the tire sticker to prove they are have 360 tread rating, I just need to find it.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/QZ ... directlink

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/bx ... directlink

There we go, damn my laziness.

[oldmako]

Well they have been on for over a month now. The ride is sublime. They are quiet and silky smooth up to 110. I have yet to wail on them any more than that.

I had a tad of front end vibe that I couldn't eliminate with the old tires. It was damn close shortly after a balance (every 5K) but would eventually creep back in. I am pleased to say that it's gone now. While I wish that I had gotten the dedicated three season tire (for looks primarily) I really need the all season tire and am happy with them.

Tire Rack however screwed me out of the rebate. They told me that the rebate form would be with the tires. When I got to the shop there was no form. I promptly called them and they said, "Oh no, the form get s shipped AFTER the tires go out. It will go to your home address". Yes, it did. But I received it after the rebate had ended because I was out of town for 9 days. Sucks.

This is probably the fifth set of Michelins I've purchased and I have to say that I am always happy with them. Pricey yes, but you generally get what you pay for in tires and batteries.

"Stay thirsty my friends"

[sandcobra]

I'm quite happy with my $200 per month payment for repairs and mainteances and 22 mpg highway with ac. $30 annual tag fee and $400 per year insurance.

Still no tickets or accidents in 25 years.


Georgia has a new $600 surcharge on 75.1+ mph [2 lane] and 85.1+ mph Interstates tickets, which has limited most of the educated [non sports figures] folks speed.

For the record, Georgia's new "Super Speeder" law is a $200 premium on top of the price of the ticket.